Improved hook



UNITE IS*TLA'lv-1Sv PATENT OFFIGE ROBERT verven VI'alivnv, OECULMBERLAND, MARYLAND.

JIMPRovl-:D HooK.Y

Specification .forming part of Letters Patent No. 105,582, dated J uly 19, 1870.

To all whom it may concern:

clear7 and exact description of the same, reference being had to `the accompanying drawing, and to the )letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification, in

which- ,l Y

Figure l is a top viewf Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a top view of the `trigger-plate and spring. Fig. et is a modification of my device. The object of my invention is to furnish a hook that is cheap, durable, and free from all complicated mechanism, one that will sustain l any degree of draft-as, for instance, when used to retain the tow-line of a canal-boat or the halyards used in hoisting or lowering the tom.'

The nature of my invention consists in constructing the main or base plate or bar with an eye at one end and a hook at the other. The hooked end is so slotted as to receive the end of the hook-bar and allow of its being pivoted therein. The hook is rmly fastened and held by means of atrigger-plate and spring, which are secured and work in a slot formed in the body of the main or base plate.

The interior face of the hooked end of the base-plate as well as the hook-bar are both curved, the curvature of the former 4being much more positive than that of the bar, so that when the hook is fastened the draft or pressure it is called upon to resist is not equally borne, but supported chiefly by the base-plate,

' and use my invention, I will now proceed t0 describe its construction and operation.

A is the main or base plate or bar, and 1s f constructed of any suitable metal, and usually Be it known that I, ROBERT VANQE LANEY, of Cumberland, `i-n thecounty of Alleghany and State of Maryland, have invented certain. newand useful Improvements in Hooks; and4 l do hereby declare that the following is afull,

in the form shown in Fig. 2, where it will be 0bserved that the forward secti:on,A,.o f the baseplateor barl is crooked or curved. The` degree vof curvature in the Working-hookis more positive than that shown in' the drawing, being much nearer a semicircle` in form, so that in its practical working, it matters not whether `it retains a tow-line or alever, it shall furnish almost the entire resistance required. This section A' terminates in a slotted head, a. This plate or bar A is cast or otherwise formed with an eye, B, which furnishes a convenient means of securing the device to the boat, car, &c. The body of the main plate or bar is provided with a slot or opening, B', and also wi h a vertical slot, b. This slot does not extend through the body of the hook, but is provided with a base rest or bearing, being cut only sufficiently deep to allow the upper surface of the end of the hook-arm to fall below and free the line in which moves the trigger-plate.

C is the hook baror arm, and is constructed of the same metal as the main or base plate A. This hook-arm G is so curved as to leave a semi-oval. recess on its inner face. In the slotted headal of the section A of the main or base plate this hook-bar C is permanently secured by means of a bolt or pin, Cf, the same being so pivoted as to allow of its free working in its slotted bearing. The free end of this arm G, when the hook is to be used, or after the tow-line or other device which it is desired to retain or hold has been properly placed in the opening X, falls in the vertical slot b, where it is automatically caught and held by the triggerplate D. This plate D is so pivoted at das to allow of its free movement and play in the slot B', as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

D' is a spring,one end of which is permanently attached to the trigger -plate D, while the oth er end is free, having its bearing against the rear Wall of the slot B. D is represented as a plate-spring in Fig. 3; but of course the coil or any other style of spring may be used.

Instead of the main or base plate A being recessed or slotted at B', so as to receive the end of the hook arm or bar C, E a metal ring that encircles the body of the base-plate, and F a horizontal plate, permanently attached to the ring, and workin g in suitable bearingplates j' f, being controlled by a spring, F. This modification, it will be observed, fastens automatically precisely on the same principle as the one hereinbefore described.

The operation is as follows: When the hook is used as a draft-hook on canal-boats, it is permanently attached to the boat by means of the eye B. The tri gger-plate D is drawn back, either by direct pressure or through a cord tied in the opening d. This leaves the end c of the hook-arm C perfectly free. This arrnis then elevated and the tow-line passed over it. When it falls again into the vertical slot b, the tri gger-plate D is freed from pressure, and instantly, being automatically driven by the tension of the spring over the end c of the hook-arm C, securely locks the same in position. When the hook is used in connection with the hopper-car, it is attached at its side,

Vwhen the same is provided with a slot, B',

falling to such a point as to leave the center of the oval opening on a line with the longitudinal or horizontal bar when in position to retain the bottom of the hopper, when the operation will be exactly the same as the one just described.

It will be seen that, owing to the nearly semicircular form of the hook end A and the semioval form of the hook-arm C when the latter is fastened, it matters not whether the hook A is called upon to resistr the draft of the towline or pressure of the lever of the dumpingcar, the pressure or draft is, of necessity, so

distributed that but a small portion of the same is borne by the hook-arm-no more, indeed, than what is suicient to elevate it after the trigger-plate D is drawn back. Were this not the case, the draft or pressure, which is immense when the hook is used for the purposes designated, would be so great on the arm C, and, consequently, on the trigger D, as to require a powerful force to unfasten or unlock the hook, and which would therefore deprive the same of its chief advantagesthat is, the instantaneous freeing of the line or lever when the same is desired.

I do not claim any of the distinctive mcchanical features shown by J. L. Dickinson in his patent granted February 4, 1868, for a harness-hook. -v

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

The main or base plate A of a draft-hook,

hook-arm C, trigger-plate D, spring D', eye B, and slot b, when said slot forms a bearing for the. end of the hook-arm C, substantially as described, as and for the purpose specied.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in the presence of two subseribing witnesses.

ROBERT VANGE LANEY.

Witnesses:

S. F. EDWARDS, M. T. BRUCE. 

